Page 49 of Accidentally Forever
Iscrolled through the seventy-four text messages I had received in the past day and a half before I exited out of the app. I knew I needed to block him even though I’d turned off his notifications. It would be better for everybody if I did. But there was that small part of me that knew once I did, he would reach out to me in truth. And I would never forgive myself if I missed that text.
But he was escalating. There was nothing I could do about it right now, except be there when he hit rock bottom. That might make me sound like a horrible person, but he was no longer hurting just himself. I wasn’t going to let Crew continue to be harmed because of me. Nor was I going to let myself fall down that rabbit hole.
Part of me knew I shouldn’t show Crew the texts at all. He got so angry every time he even heard Travis’s name—let alone heard about any of the other man’s actions. And I didn’t want to ruin his day. There was nothing he could do at the moment, so I ignored the texts andkept Crew safe.
“Everything okay over there?”
I slid my phone into my back pocket and grinned over at Daisy. “Everything is wonderful.” Not quite a lie. “Although I’m still confused as to why we are bowling. I mean, you know what happened the last time I bowled.”
My cousin held back a grin, but her eyes still danced with laughter. “Because you lost the coin toss. And don’t worry. We’ll get you bumpers.”
“That is just mean.” I shook my head, smiling for real this time.
Claire, Phoebe, and Phoebe’s sister Isabella walked toward us at that moment, a tray of nachos, hot dogs, burgers, wings, and assorted snacks between them.
My eyes widened. “Oh.Thisis why we come here.”
After they set down the tray on the tabletop, Phoebe tossed a tater tot into her mouth and moaned. “I know these are terrible for me, but I’m going to eat all of them.”
“As long as you don’t touch my onion rings,” Isabella warned. She turned to me and grinned. “And the chicken sandwich. There’s just something about a bowling alley chicken sandwich.”
Phoebe shuddered. “That is all yours. The last time I ate a chicken sandwich like that I was fourteen, and it was right before a soccer game.Big mistake. I was on defense, and not only did I get a yellow card forso-called tripping a kid named Karl, a ball hit me square in the stomach and I nearly threw up on everyone.”
I had just taken a bite of hot dog and paused.
Phoebe shook her head. “Sorry for the visual. But every time I look at a chicken sandwich, that’s what I think. Actually, what I mostly think about is the fourteen-year-old kid who hadn’t hit his growth spurt yet and went flying as he tripped over my foot. I got in trouble because he couldn’t handle me and hadn’t hit puberty.”
Isabella looked dubiously at her sandwich. “Are there any more childhood horror stories that are going to try to ruin some of my favorite foods?”
“Okay, do we have these two lanes?” my other cousinBrooklyn asked.
Daisy beamed. “Yes. We can divide teams however we want, but Aria can’t be in my lane.”
“Why?” I asked, a little put out. Though not surprised since bowling wasn’t my thing.
“Probably because you need the bumpers,” Dara said as she ran toward us.
I held open my arms for my baby sister and hugged her tightly before shoving playfully at her shoulder. “Hey. You’re supposed to be on my side. We are actually siblings.”
“And I’m the one who not only had her toe broken, but almost got a concussion from the last time you bowled. I am not on your team,” Dara said as everybody burst out laughing, and I felt the blush that covered my cheeks.
“Oh. Right.” I cleared my throat. “Though Ihavebeen bowling since then.”
Everybody gave me a look, and I threw my hands in the air.
“Is there evidence of this bowling?” Daisy asked, lifting her chin even though I knew she was laughing.
“You can ask Crew. He’s the one who took me out.” I paused. “Because he was afraid for my family’s safety if we ever went bowling again without him,” I muttered.
Everyone once again burst out laughing before we broke into teams. Daisy, Isabella, and Brooklyn all decided to brave being in my lane.
“That does sound like a Crew thing to do. Sacrificing himself for the greater good.” Daisy rolled her eyes as a little bit of uneasiness swept over me.
“Is this weird?” I blurted.
“Is what weird?” Daisy asked as we put on our ugly yet amazing bowling shoes.
“The fact that I’m dating your ex-boyfriend.”
